NSW Ambulance admits its staff leaked graphic photo of shark attack victim's injuries

NSW Ambulance has admitted that it was the source of a leaked graphic image of a shark attack victim's injuries.

An image of Lauren O'Neill's mauled leg was leaked online after she was bitten by a bull shark on Monday night, triggering an investigation by St Vincent's Hospital and NSW Police.

This afternoon, NSW Ambulance released a statement taking responsibility for the leak.

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"NSW Ambulance sincerely apologises to Ms O'Neill for the breach of her privacy and the additional distress it has caused her and her loved ones at this most difficult time," a spokesperson said.

"We spoke with Ms O'Neill's family this afternoon and informed them that we believe a NSW Ambulance staff member was responsible for the breach of her privacy.

"NSW Ambulance takes its patient privacy obligations very seriously and is continuing to investigate this breach to determine the full details of the incident.

"It is not appropriate to make any further comment while the investigation is ongoing."

Police confirmed earlier this afternoon that they were investigating the leak after it was reported that they provided six photos of O'Neill to the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

O'Neill was attacked about 7.45pm on Monday, with emergency services quickly dispatching a helicopter to Billyard Avenue in Elizabeth Bay.

O'Neill's neighbour Fiona Crago, a vet, applied a tourniquet to stem the bleeding after the attack and O'Neill was rushed to St Vincents Hospital.

The hospital announced it was investigating after the photo showing O'Neill's wounded leg started circulating online.

"St Vincent's has become aware of photos in the public domain that appear to have been taken in the emergency department and are related to those of a patient injury," Hospital spokesperson David Faktor told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"St Vincent's takes patient privacy obligations extremely seriously and is investigating this issue as a matter of priority.

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"We have informed the patient of the photos being taken and circulated online. We have sincerely apologised for any part St Vincent's played in the photos being taken."

The photo appears to show O'Neill's bloodied leg.

Previously, O'Neill had thanked hospital staff, emergency workers and her neighbours for their swift response after the attack.

"She wishes to thank her heroic and very kind neighbours for the critical assistance they provided her," O'Neill's family said in a statement.

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"Lauren is also immensely grateful to the New South Wales ambulance paramedics and Kings Cross police for their swift and caring actions at the scene.

"She would also like to thank all the clinicians at St Vincent's Hospital, particularly the specialist surgical team who worked through the night. 

"A likely full recovery is a testament to their extraordinary skills."

O'Neill also asked for her privacy to be respected as she recovered.

An analysis of her injuries found them to be consistent with a bull shark attack.